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Access and Use of FIA Data Through FIA Spatial Data Services

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Spatial Data Services (SDS) was established in May 2002 to facilitate outside access to FIA data and allow use of georeferenced plot data while protecting the confidentiality of plot locations. Modification of the Food Security Act of 1985 legislated the protection of information on plot location and ownership. Penalties were put in place for violations. Because of this change in the law, many customers have been served by FIA SDS, and demand for spatial analyses continues to grow. More than 130 requests for spatial data or other information have been received from academia, State and local governments, Federal agencies, and forest industry. This article describes how projects progress from inception to completion, including security concerns.

Parent Publication

Citation

LaPoint, Elizabeth. 2005. Access and Use of FIA Data Through FIA Spatial Data Services. In: Proceedings of the fifth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium; 2003 November 18-20; New Orleans, LA. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-69. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. 222p.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/14295